Premier League Fixtures: Week 2 Schedule, Score Predictions for EPL Matchday
After the opening weekend of Premier League fixtures treated us to plenty of absorbing clashes, Week 2 is rife with heavyweight matches that’ll have a critical say on a side’s early season fortunes.
None of the major challengers for the title shone too brightly in their first matches—Manchester City aside—but that’s to be expected with players a little rusty and new faces to bed in the starting XI. As such, this weekend we should see some slicker football from the very best sides in the division.
The standout clash of the weekend will see champions Chelsea visit City in a showdown between last season's top two. Here’s a closer examination of that game, the schedule for Week 2 and a prediction for each match to be played in the Premier League.
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| Friday, August 14 | 7:45 p.m. | Aston Villa vs. Manchester United | 1-2 |
| Saturday, August 15 | 12:45 p.m. | Southampton vs. Everton | 2-2 |
| Saturday, August 15 | 3 p.m. | Watford vs. West Brom | 2-1 |
| Saturday, August 15 | 3 p.m. | Sunderland vs. Norwich City | 1-1 |
| Saturday, August 15 | 3 p.m. | Tottenham vs. Stoke City | 1-1 |
| Saturday, August 15 | 3 p.m. | West Ham vs. Leicester City | 2-0 |
| Saturday, August 15 | 3 p.m. | Swansea City vs. Newcastle | 2-1 |
| Sunday, August 16 | 1:30 p.m. | Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal | 2-1 |
| Sunday, August 16 | 4 p.m. | Manchester City vs. Chelsea | 1-1 |
| Monday, August 17 | 8 p.m. | Liverpool vs. Bournemouth | 3-1 |
Manchester City vs. Chelsea
After dropping two points to Swansea City on the opening day of the season, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea team will be desperate to get their first win secured, but there are few tougher venues to get a victory than Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
The Blues twice surrendered a lead against the Welsh outfit, with uncharacteristic lapses in defence costing them on a couple of occasions. A moment of rashness from Thibaut Courtois also means the champions will be without their first-choice goalkeeper for what is a vital fixture.
But as noted by Miguel Delaney of ESPN FC, Mourinho does have quality waiting in reserve:
Regardless of who is between the sticks, Chelsea will need to up their levels to ensure they get a result at City. They were lethargic against a vibrant Swansea team on Saturday; while Garry Monk’s side didn’t take their chances, there’s no denying that Manchester City, and the quality they possess, will make them pay.
The recent form of the Blues will certainly give City some encouragement, as we can see courtesy of Squawka Football:
Especially against a City team that clicked into gear immediately at the Hawthorns on Monday. Indeed, they swatted aside Tony Pulis' West Brom side with a real panache. It was an early indicator that they're ready to wrestle the title back that Chelsea prised from their grasp last season.
In what’ll be their first home game of the season, expect Manuel Pellegrini’s side to be champing at the bit ahead of this one. The likes of Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero and David Silva have enough ability to cause the Blues plenty of issues, but expect a pragmatic Chelsea team to emerge with a hard-earned point.
Prediction: Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea
Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal
Arsene Wenger will know it’s imperative his team bounce back after their opening-day defeat to West Ham United, but getting the best of an impressive Crystal Palace team is going to be very difficult for the Gunners.
Arsenal looked poor in their 2-0 loss at home to the Hammers, with Slaven Bilic’s team showing more endeavour, energy and ingenuity. The same mistakes that knocked Arsenal’s title tilt off course last season were worryingly prevalent in this one and Petr Cech endured a nightmare debut between the sticks.
Breathe Sport posted a humorous take on the ex-Chelsea man’s stuttering start to life at the Emirates, in which he was directly at fault for both West Ham goals:
"Arsenal desperately searching for a receipt for Petr Cech... https://t.co/hE2szOG3CG
— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) August 9, 2015"
Going to Palace will expose Arsenal’s soft centre further, you fear. Not only has Alan Pardew made some strong summer purchases, the most impressive of which being Yohan Cabaye, Selhurst Park is one of the most difficult venues to play football in the country. It means the Gunners are going to have to be up for a bit of a battle.
The Eagles possess some serious strength in depth too, as Paul Hayward of the Daily Telegraph noted in the aftermath of their 3-1 win at Norwich:
"Crystal Palace were able to kick off at Norwich with Bolasie, Jedinak, Bamford and Wickham all on the bench. Getting stronger fast.
— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) August 9, 2015"
It’s going to be an extremely tough game for Arsenal. The atmosphere will test their mental strength and enrich the levels of the Palace players, who already have momentum behind them. Expect the hosts to continue their strong start with a narrow win and plunge the Gunners into an early season crisis.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Arsenal
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